CHAPTER VIII.

Walton in affliction.

We have now to present the character and experience of our friend in circumstances somewhat new. We are to contemplate him in the school of affliction, where God trains so many of His children for usefulness here, and glory hereafter. "Affliction," says Matthew Henry, "is the discipline of God's school, whereby his children are trained up in the way in which they should go. And it is necessary; as needful as weeding is to the garden; as pruning to the vine; as physic to the body. Do not expect to find it all carpet-way to Heaven. Stormy weather makes the harbor desirable." Or if we take the beautiful illustration of Oberlin: "I have before me two stones, which are an imi ́tation of precious stones. They are both perfectly alike in color; they are of the same water, clear, pure, and clean; yet there is a marked difference between them as to their lustre and brilliancy. One has a dazzling brightness, while the other is dull, so that the eye passes over it, and derives no pleasure from the sight. What can be the reason of this difference? It is this. The one is cut in but a few facets. The other has ten times as many. These facets are produced by a very violent operation. It is requisite to cut, to smooth, and to polish. Could the stones feel the

Oberlin's illustration

Sickness of his daughter.

operation, the one which had received eighty facets, would have thought itself very unhappy, and would have envied the fate of the other, which, having received but eight, endured but a tenth part of its sufferings. Nevertheless, the operation being over, it is done forever. The difference between the two stones always remains strongly marked. That which has suffered but little, is entirely eclipsed by the other, which alone is held in estimation, and attracts attention. May not this serve to explain the saying of our Saviour, whose words always have reference to eternity, 'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted?' Blessed, whether we contemplate them apart, or in comparison with those, who have not passed through so many trials."

There are probably few parents, who will not be interested in the following record:

"Bethany, Oct. 8.-During the last four weeks, we have had more family afflictions than we ever had before, I believe, since we have been a family. My sister and Mexhausted by fatigue and loss of rest in waiting upon my mother day and night, were first attacked. Their cases were extremely critical and obstinate; but through mercy, both are recovering. On Saturday night, Sept. 14th, our dear little daughter Margaret Ann, was taken, although we did not think the attack violent. On Sunday morning early, we gave her medicine, which seemed to have a good effect, and in the afternoon she was so much better, that her mother and I left her to go to Wickliffe, where I had an appointment to preach. On our return we found her rather worse. On Monday her head became very much affected. Dr. S- was sent for, who employed the most active and efficient remedies. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon her. Her delirium increased to a most distressing height; so that she required and received the. most unremitting and painful attention day and night, for nineteen days and nights in succession. During the greater part of this time her sufferings appeared to be most intense. The pain of blisters, of which she had in all twelve; the suffering arising from the most agonizing sickness at the

of

Her death.

Its effect.

Anecdote.

stomach, causing her to cry out almost continually, (I think she must have said, 'Oh dear' nearly 10,000 times!) from lifting her in and out of the warm bath, which operation was repeated, some days and nights, about ten times; from taking medicine, bleeding, &c., all amounted to more positive anguish than I ever witnessed in any person, for so many days in succession. Often were our hopes raised, and as often sunk again; every instance of which had its appropriate effect on my mind, in driving me to the throne grace in prayer and in praise. Never did any child feel the effect of the rod* more sensibly than I felt this, and nothing ever had such an effect in quickening me to call upon God. I feel that I needed just such an affliction, and my alternate hopes and fears during this whole season of trial were most salutary. I often enjoyed a greater freedom and comfort in prayer than I ever had done before. How often did I entreat the Lord to take away my iniquities and cause his anger against me to cease; to raise the dear little creature to health, if it could be consistent with his wise and holy purposes; if not, to prepare her for a seat at his right hand, and to give us the evidence of it before he removed her, for our comfort! Well, He did not restore her to health, but He answered my prayer-blessed be his Name! He gave us more evidence than I could have expected in the nature of the case, that He had made her a subject of his grace. This filled my heart with joy, and my mouth with praise. Although I never before felt my affection for her so sensibly, yet I never was so happy in all my life, as I was this morning after she died, during some religious exercises we had. It was a feast of feeling

* Not long since, a lady of the author's acquaintance, a professing Christian, who had drank deep of the cup of maternal affliction-having in early life buried two children, as she saw the third -- a darling infant son-in the arms of death, began to wonder, to doubt, perhaps even to murmur at such reiterated strokes. "Why am I," thought she, "treated with such severity? What have I done to deserve it?" While thoughts like these were permitted to disturb the tranquility of Christian submission, intelligence was brought her that another son, beloved of his parents, had fallen into a vessel of boiling water, and was probably scalded to death! It was enough. She bowed in sweet subinission to the double stroke, ejaculated my Father! handed over her infant to die in the arms of a friend, and prepared to do all she could for the comfort of her agonized boy, till God should call him to follow his little brother to the tomb! But the child, though almost mortally injured, through the goodness of God survived, and the mother has learned to say, Thy will be done!

Estimate of its influence.

—it continues to this moment, when I dwell upon the same considerations. I was almost overwhelmed with a sense of obligation for Divine favors. Never did I praise the Lord in such a manner before. Never did He seem so near. Never did the Gospel appear so precious. Never did I feel desires so strong and unmingled, to be holy, and live entirely to the glory of God. Oh may He in infinite mercy hear the many prayers that have been offered up, that these afflictions might be abundantly sanctified to us all! and that they may prepare us for more usefulness, and prepare the people to receive the Gospel message. During the same time, about twenty members of my family have been sick! What a mercy, that though often much indisposed and obliged to take medicine, yet my dear wife and myself have been enabled to attend upon the sick continually! For twenty nights I never had my clothes off but once. We experienced much kindness from friends during the whole of our affliction, and they were brought to our assistance so seasonably, that the hand of the Lord was evidently in it. Nothing else probably would have impressed so deeply upon our minds the importance of praying and laboring more intensely for the conversion of our children, and so convinced us that the Lord can, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, perfect his praise. This is a great mercy to us and to our children. She is also taken from temptations innumerable, which might have been fatal and destructive to her soul; and now she is, I have abundant reason to believe, secure and happy in the arms of that Redeemer in whom she trusted, and who though unseen, appeared to be so precious to her soul! When I consider these things, and all the good which the Lord designed to do to me and mine, by this dispensation, my soul is filled with wonder, love, and praise. He might have taught us some of the same things by snatching our child away suddenly without hope; but in teaching us lessons of the greatest practical importance, He has conferred infinite mercy upon a dear child! Indeed I see so much more mercy than severity in our afflictions, great as to some they may appear, that there is an unspeakable sweetness in them. It seems that I have tasted no bitterness at all. Although the dear little creature had suffered more than language can describe during the greater part of her illness, yet a short time before she died, she appeared to be perfectly

How shall ministers comfort others?

Letter.

easy, and like one sinking into a sweet and tranquil sleep. I never saw any human being die so easily. Her soul took its flight at 10 o'clock, this morning. Glory to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!"

66

Tuesday, Nov. 15.-My dear child still feels as precious to me as ever, and I feel her loss more sensibly than I did at first; but I have the same views of the kindness and mercy of God in our afflictions. I never felt so much as if the heart of stone was taken away and a heart of flesh was given me, as I have since the death of my child. Never for the same length of time did I enjoy so uniformly freedom and comfort in prayer."

Ministers must be taught by very painful and practical lessons, how to draw comfort from the heavenly fountain; how to submit to the discipline and bless the dealings of the 'Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them, who are in any trouble, by the comfort, wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.' How can gold be tried, if it be not cast into the furnace? Let the

reader ponder that passage. 1 Peter i. 6-8.

In a letter to some female friends, the inmates of the same family, dated at Bethany, he thus writes:

"Dear Sisters,

*

*

"BETHANY, Nov. 10, 1835.

* Nothing ever affected me so deeply as this. It would be insupportable, but for those consolations which the Gospel imparts. These consolations are abundant in the present case. I shall ever look back, upon this season of affliction, as peculiarly precious and profitable to me; for never before did I taste and see and feel so much of the goodness and mercy of God. May I never lose the impressions which this dispensation has made upon my mind! And may you, my dear sisters, find the Lord to be a present, a very present help, in every time of need.' Oh what a privilege it is to be in his hands, and under his discipline! My obligations are greatly enhanced by the grace given to my dear wife in this season of trial. I never saw Christian resignation in greater perfection than I have seen